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Show C i. ' . . ; V ; EDITORIAL Right To Live '. M V r .. '". The life of Summit County's Family Planning Clinic may be prematurely cut off as a new wave of criticism concerning the clinic surfaced last week during the monthly meeting of . the County Health Board. And from the information we have I obtained, much of this criticism is not only without merit, but stems from a general lack of understanding. A Family Planning Clinic is useful only if it fulfills the I needs and is supported by the people it serves. According to " a recent telephone survey conducted by the Summit County Health Department. 84 of the residents living throughout the County said they supported the clinic. Since April, there have been six clinical sessions; patients received treatment of various kinds, including pap tests,- pelvic and breast examinations, pregnancy tests, fertility counseling, VD tests, vaginal infections, sterilization counseling, as well as referral and birth control. Park City Mayor Jack Green, in a letter sent to the Health Board, stated, "The Park City Council would like to go on record as endorsing and urging the support of the Summit County Family Planning program.' The Chamber of Commerce in Park City also sent a letter of support to the Health Board, urging its members to vote in favor of continuing the clinic's services to the county. The clinic in Park City is being financially supported by a grant from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Should the County Health Board vote to discontinue the clinic during its next meeting, August 21, the money can not be used for any other services in Summit County. One vocal opponent of the Family Planning Clinic is Dr. Wayne Bosworth, a member of the Health Board. Dr. Bosworth, during an interview with the Record, said he feels family planning clinics encourage a certain "lifestyle" by being "a good place for youngsters to go with no permission from their parents and get birth control pills." "It's a lifestyle I don't approve of," he said. There is no evidence so far to support the contention that Summit County's Family Planning Clinic is encouraging any particular "lifestyle." Judging from the treatments given to patients since April, the clinic is offering a variety of health services needed by residents in Park City and throughout the county. County Commissioner Bill Wallin is also in favor of eliminating the Family Planning Clinic, saying it is a waste of government money. The clinic has already proven its usefulness, gaining more and more patients in the short three-month period it has been open. Arid based on the t recent telephone survey, an overwhelming majority of Summit County residents want those services to continue at ! the clinic. We only hope that Mr. Wallin will support the - wishes of his constituents. i Summit County Health Director Bob Snapper gave probably the most common-sense reason for maintaining our Family Planning Clinic when he said the clinic's primary function is preventive health care. "It means making good f personal care available," he said. i We urge members of the County Health Board not to kill a . service in this county, especially one that has demonstrated it ' has a right to live. |